Rest for your Soul

Psalm 23:2 says, "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters."

This sounds so appealing to me. This is an image of rest and peace. To be honest, my soul could use some right now. Yet that is what the Lord provides for me daily: rest. When life gets complicated or difficult, I turn to Him and I can find rest. Even in the midst if turmoil, He provides a safe haven of rest for me. He makes me lie down. He leads me beside the calm water. He is the one who realizes I need the rest, because He is the one initiating and leading.

There have been times however where He did not lead to rest nor provide it. His concern for me then was to strengthen me and develop my endurance for difficult times. Yet even then, the Psalm says that He provides for me in the presence of my enemies. What an image! There is a complete lack of concern for the danger the enemy represents. That is because the enemy is no trouble for my Lord. He surrounds His people so that they need not fear what life may bring to them: even when life seems overwhelming. Even when He is letting us be surrounded by the troubles and cares of life, He has a way of bringing peace and provision.

Take heart my friends. Whatever situation in life you find yourself, the Great Shepherd has given you rest, protection, and peace, assuming you are a Christian of course. Are you?